Means for supporting box-lids in an open position.



G. POWELL & J. RENWIGK. MEANS FOR SUPPORTING BOX LIDS IN AN OPEN'POSITION.

APPLICATION FILED I'll-13.27, 1909.

Patented July 20, 1909.

Maxims;

Wzfizassw 55020! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CAROLINE POWELL AND JAMES RENWICK, OF HIGHER BROUGHTON, SALFORD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO H. J. PACKER & COMPANY, LIMITED, OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND.

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING BOX-LIBS IN AN OPEN POSITION.

Patented July 20, 1909.

Serial No. 480,341.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CAROLINE POWELL and JAMES RENwIox, subjects of the King of England, residing at Higher Broughton, Salford, in En land, have invented certain new and useful mproved Means for Supporting Box-Lids in an Open Position, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to and consists of improved means for securing the lids of boxes in a position suitable for displaying the contents of the box, and also any printed matter on theinner face of the lid.

The invention is more particularly designed for use with wooden boxes for holding and displaying confectionery.

According to the invention, use is made of a member consisting of a narrow strip of thin sheet metal, preferably flexible, and comparatively short in length, say two to three inches over all. At one end such member or strip is formed with a small hole and is adapted to be pivoted to the top edge of the box end, whi e at its other and free end it is slightly enlarged and formed with a notch or notches.

The distance of the strip ivot from the box lid hinge is slightly less t an the length of the stri therefore, when the box is o ened, an it is required to hold the lid at t e usual angle for displaying the printed matter on the lid, the 'member or strip, by engaging the edge of the lid by its notch, serves to firmly hold the lid in the open and desired angular position. On requiring to close the lid, the member or strip is swiveled clear of the edge of the lid toa position overlying the contents of the box, where it in no way interferes with the acking of the box and where it remains rea y for use when the box is re-opened.

Upon the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 illustrates an ordinary wooden confectionery box ers ectively, with the lid shown raised an he d at the required angle by the improved strip. Fig. 2 illustrates a face view, and Fig. 3 an edge view of the strip separately from the box.

a is the member or stri which, as aforesaid, is preferably made 0 thin sheet metal and is capable of readily bending. It is also made to a Width about equal to the thickness of the box end 0 for nearly its whole length; but its free end is, by preference, slightly enlarged. In such enlarged end is formed the notch b. By means of a hole a and a long, flat-headed pin cl the member or strip is connected at its narrower end to the box. The member or strip is capable of swiveling about the pin, and therefore of lying with its free end over the contents of the box as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, or of lying exterior to the box and by its notch b engaging the edge of the lid e, see Fig. 1.

To allow for a variation of lid adjustments, the member or strip may be formed with two notches, but one notch will usually serve, the variations being obtained by bending the member or strip.

While preferring the member or strip to be made of sheet metal, it may be made of wire bent to the required form, and although chiefly applicable to wooden confectionery boxes, the invention may be applied to other boxes with which the lid requires to be supported in an open position suitable for displaying the contents and the printed matter on the inside face of the lid.

Of course, display boxes with removable and temporary lids or covers have hitherto, been provided with means whereby such lids or covers may be supported in an open position, but said means have either formed part of the hinges, or they have consisted of clips or catches secured to the edge of a temporary glass cover, and provided with a bent part for supporting the lid proper in an inclined position for display purposes.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is z 1. In combination with a box having a lid hinged thereto, a member having one end thereof pivoted to the top edge of one of the box ends so as to move in a plane transverse to the vertical plane of the side of the box, and having its opposite end extending rearwardly of the box and formed with a notch on its inner side edge adapted to receive the adjacent end of the box lid to engage same on its inner and outer side faces.

2. In combination with a box havin a lid hinged thereto, a means for securing t e lid in various adjustable open positions composed of a bendable part pivoted to the top 7 In Witness whereof we have signed this edge of one of the box ends so as to lie in a specification in the presence of two witnesses.

plane transverse to the Vertical plane of the CAROLINE POWELL. side of the box and formed with an inwardly JAMES RENWICK. facing part of a size to receive the adjacent W itnesses:

end edge of the lid to engage on the inner and ERNALD SIMPSON MosELEY,

outer side faces thereof. 7 MALCOLM SMETHURST. 

